Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1887-12-06
WHITE HOUSE NOTES
The Silver Plate and the Sideboard-.
Eye-pleasing Qleensware.

The Silver Plate ana the oideo 9afa--
Eye-pleasing Qleensware.
These extracts from an article in Har-
per's Bazar will be of special interest y
the womcnfolks:
The private dining-room, or that in
which the family residing in that house
take their meals on all save State occas-
ions, and In which when they desire 10
have few friends dine with them in
formally the meal is served, is one OF the
handsomest rooms in the building. IL
and tie red parlor are the only ones on
the first floor which suggests by their
furniture aud ornaments the apartments
for similar purposes in the homes of pco-
pie of wealth and taste. The East Room,
the Blue and Green Parlors and the State
dining room all have a stiff, ceremoniOus
air. as if made for show, and called 10
mind the parors Of finely furnished ho-
tells, which are not expected 10 be used as
living rooms by any one. But In modern
hotels of the best class one does not see
woodwork about doors and windows
painted In colors, as was done six years
ago in the Blue Parlor, and remaineth TO
this day a bright glaring blue, which,
around the windows, spoils the tints Of
ChCt1 tutnS SiSO IN NAtN pNiiOt.
Some of the most really elegant furni-
ture in the White House Is in the private
dining room. The sldcboard, of elab0r-
ately carved mahogany, made for the
room, and purchased by Mrs. Hayes,
when mistress of the mansion, is there.
and likewise the side table aud buffet
made by President Authur's orders out
of the dining room table (also of carved
mahogany. which had been made by Mrs.
Hayes orders ut the same time as the
sideboard), aud in similar style.
President Arthur complained that the
carved legs Of this table when he sat az 1t
for meals hurt his legs. so he had II III
vidpd and fashioned into the two pieces
of furniture just named, and replaced 1t
with large round table, which Is still
in the room, and stands in the centre,
and ON il meals are served Two very
| old wooden side tables; with highly pol
| ished surface, are against the walls in
this room. Side lights, wholly made of
| the finest glass globes, brackets. pipes,
aud all of fine rose shade, are affixed TO
the walls. The wall paper and the car
pet are very handsome, and harmonize
with the furniture, as the curtains dc
likewise.
rhe china silver aud glass on the side
board buffet aud table would delight the
taste of connOisseurs for their quality and
| folm apart from their intrinsic value and
| the associations that cluster about them.
| Ii speaks well for the honesty of White
| douse employees that solid silver and
| gold tableware has remained there so
| ,ong-fifty years and upward, some Of 1t.
/ Chance visitors are never admitted to his
Dom, for all day-when a President Is
| living in the W White Hous'--all these val
uables are exposed ON the tables, etc. there
/ some of this silver was used during
| Monroe's administration. Some of tue
| china in use since. as it was during Lin.
| coin s term, is there; il is white, with q
| 5olferino border. ard is generally put on
the table when the family dine alone or
nave but one or two guests. Part OF the
/ elaborate china service, made and decora-
/ led TO order, bought by Mrs. Hayes while
/ III the hite House is arranged on the
| outlets, and some OF the larger plates are
fastened ON the wall.
OF the Mouroe silver there Is a whole
| -ervice, all of solid silver Among tile
| pieces, all of which have beautiful shapes,
i are two soup turecns with covers. The
iureens are affixed 10 large oval shaped
| fat bOtt0med stands spreading beneath
them like walters. These stsfhds and
tureens are all in one piece There are
silver cake baskets, gravy. boats. urns for
| coffee, tea and hot water and sirup pitch
ers. There are fine glass cIaret jugs with
silver tops, and a tea-kettle of FURNISHED
brass over a lamp for alchohol.
All the silver is very substantial look
| ing. The silver Hiawatha boat, used as
| a central ornament for the table on state
occasions, stands on the buffet This
was bought at tue Centennial Exposition
of 1876.
Mr.. Van Buren's gold spoons and forks.
which were lively campaign issue while
ne was President, are also ON the buffet.
They are very plain indeed. and, like all
the silver, are marked Presidents
House.
All of these valuables are carefully
watched, for the steward of the White
House is responsible FOR them to the Gov
ernment. He gives heavy bond on TAX
ing his place, and all the furniture. orna-
ments and other United States property
in the building are under his charge, and
he is directly responsible for their care
aud preservation No Presidenl takes ~
the Executive Mansion his own or bis
wife's silver. glass. china or household
linen, as all these things are provided by
the Government. aud private property
must not be mixed with them.